Container loading apparatus



March 16, 1937. ll H. RISSER CONTAINER LOADING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Aug. 27, 1935 /A/VEN TUR' /I/A/vA H. R/SSER March4 16, 1937. l H. RISSER 2,073,944

CONTAINER LOADING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O O O C G Q00@ m C@ Patented Mar. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER LOADING APPARATUS ration of Illinois Original application August 27, 1935, Serial No.

38,031. 1936, Serial No. 75,180

17 Claims.

This is a division of my original application, Ser. No. 38,031, for Container cleaning apparatus, filed August 27, 1935.

The present invention relates to means for 5 loading containers onto a conveying means to be given a predetermined treatment.

One object of the invention is to provide such means of the simplest construction that will cause the loading or feeding of bottles by force l of gravity to the conveyor, whereby the feeding movement of the bottles is controlled to prevent breakage thereof.

Such means, as outlined, is especially applicable tocontainer cleaning apparatus of the class l shown in said original application, in which bottles with extended necks are carried in an inverted position on a conveyor to be cleaned and drained, and on which conveyor the bottles are supported with their necks received in positioning recesses or pockets so that the shoulders of the bottles rest on the edges of the recesses.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent by reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the same complete machine of the' original application showing the mechanism of this specific invention applied thereto, and with parts broken away and other parts in section.

Fig. 2 isV a sectional plan view of container receiving portion of the machine embodying the invention, the View being taken substantially on the section line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed section of the feeding means of the invention as, generally appears in Fig. 1, but showing certain parts in changed position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing said certain parts in another changedv position.

Fig. 5 is a detail section as may be taken substantially on the section line 5-5 of Figf3.

For convenience of identification with the original application, of which this is a division, the numerals of reference hereafter `used are substantially the same as those of said original application.

The machine to which this invention is applied, comprises a frame I inclusive of a base 2 in the form of an open rectangular frame-work of structural pieces, and including side lframes 3 in the form of plates suitably mounted on the base.

Disposed between the side frames 3, so as to be spaced therefrom, is an endless container conveyor II mounted to move in an upper active stretch 5 and a lowerreturn stretch 6, for con- Divided and this application April 18,

veying containers or bottles with extended necks in an inverted position through the machine to be cleaned or washed and then drained. The conveyor comprises two laterally arranged similar sprocket chains 'I on which are mounted group positioning means for bottles, and comprising elongated cleats or channel pieces 8 extending transversely between and mounted on the respective links of the chains, and with each channel piece having a longitudinal group or roW of bottle positioning members I0 in the form of flanged tubular sections mounted on said piece to extend through apertures therein, and within whose recesses or pockets Il the necks I2 of the bottles I4 are to be received in positioning the bottles in an inverted position on the upper stretch of the conveyor, so that the shoulders of the bottles rest upon the edges of the pockets, and whereby the bottles are carried on the conveyor in uniform transverse rows.

The conveyor is operated so that its upper stretch is caused to move from left to right, as seen in Fig. 1. The chains I are supported, at the leading portion of the upper stretch, upon drive sprockets I5, respectively, which are se' cured onto a drive shaft I6 rotatably mounted in bearings in the side frames 3. At the trailing portion of the upper stretch of the conveyor, the chains are supported on idler sprockets I8, respectively, which are rotatably mounted on an idler shaft I9 extending freely through apertures in the side frames with its ends secured in bearings of adjustable mountings or levers 2| located respectively outside the side frames. The levers 2I extend downward from their bearings at their free ends to be fulcrumed at their lower ends to the side frames, as at 22. 'Ihe levers are adjusted in the direction of the upper stretch, to cause adjustment of the stretches as to tension, by means .of adjusting screws 23, respectively, which are threaded into bosses 24 on the outer sides of the frames 3. v

For a reason that will become apparent later on, the idler sprockets I8 are smaller than the drive sprockets. Therefore, to cause the upper and lower stretches of the conveyor to travel in planes providing ample space for mechanism within` the conveyor, supplemental idler sprockets 25 are provided below the idlers I8 and over r which the chains I are caused to ride so that their stretches are parallel. Said sprockets 25 are mounted rotatably on a shaft 26 which extends freely through an aperture in each side frame, and with each end thereof secured in a bearing 21 of a lateral extension 28 of each lever 2I.

The upper and lower stretches of the chains 'I are supported upon rails 29 and 3B, respectively, mounted on inwardly projecting posts 3i of the side frames. On the pivotal connections 32 of the links of the chains, are mounted antifriction rollers 33 which ride on the rails.

The conveyor is so driven to cause the transverse rows of container positioning members I0 thereof to intermittently advance. As each row of said members I!) is in a position wherein it is about to be moved about the axis of the idler shaft I9 into the upper stretch of the conveyor, it is disposed in cooperative relation with a gravity urged container feeder head 35 which is caused to feed a row of bottles thereto, and wherein the bottles are slid into the pockets of the members at an angle about 30 degrees from the horizontal. Upon the next movement of the members I0, after being moved into the upper stretch of the conveyor, the bottles carried thereby are broughtin an inverted position into cooperative relation over one of two liquid cleaner heads 3E, which are of the pressure spray type and which direct jets of water into two rows of bottles at a time. After leaving the cleaner head, the bottles are caused to drain while continuing on the conveyor until they are transported from the machine by suitable mechanism at the leading portion of the conveyor.

For intermittently driving the conveyor, a continuously rotating power shaft 31 is provided, which is disposed transversely in spaced relation 'd under the conveyor, and is rotatably mounted in bearings in the side frames 3 so as to extend therethrough. The power shaft 31 is operably connected with the drive shaft I6, to intermittently drive same, by means of similar eccentrics 39 mounted respectively on the outer ends of the power shaft. The eccentrics are pivotally connected with upright rods 4E) whose top ends are pivotally connected with the outer ends of oscillating levers 4I to oscillate same in unison. The levers 4I are pivotallyY mounted on the drive shaft I6 outside the frames 3 and have gravity urged pawls 42, respectively, for engaging teeth 43 of ratchet wheels 44 mounted on the shaft upon the upward stroke of the levers to advance the conveyor. The conveyor is positively held during the return stroke of the levers 4I, by means of a suitably arranged gravity urged holding dog 45 pivotally mounted on each side frame 3 for holding the ratchet wheels 44 during said movement of the levers. The dogs 45 are retracted to release the ratchet wheels for movement at the end of the return stroke of the levers 4I, by means of the camming engagement between a cam formation 48 at the end of each dog and a pin 49 at the end of an extension 50 of each lever 4I.

The feeder head 35 of the present invention, includes a magazine 5I for retaining and positioning a group or row of bottles in side by side arrangement so that their neck portions incline downward at an angle of about 30 degrees from the horizontal preparatory to being fed to the conveyor by force of gravity. The magazine comprises an inclined bottom portion 52 on which are mounted upright partitions 53 providing bottle retaining chutes arranged to effect the spacing of the bottles therein in accordance with the spacing of the pockets of the positioning members I0 arranged transversely on the conveyor.

The magazine is mounted so that the Chutes incline downward at the proper angle mentioned, and is so arranged whereby the axes of the bottles therein will intersect the axis of the idler shaft I9. The magazine is mounted to be adjustable with the idler shaft I9 when same is adjusted, whereby to maintain cooperative relation between the chutes and the members I0 of the conveyor. To this end two support arms 54 are fulcrumed on the shaft I9 between the idler sprockets I8 and the side frames 3 respectively, and extend in the direction of the magazine to be connected at their outer ends with a transverse support bar 55 on which the magazine is mounted.

On the under side of each arm 54 is a flat horizontal abutment portion 56 for engagement with an upright adjusting screw 51 threaded through a boss 58 mounted on the end of each side frame. Thus the arms 54 are supported on said screws 51 to be adjustable with the shaft I9, and to be adjustable angularly with respect to the conveyor.

The feeder head also includes a unitary feed control device 59 for intermittently blocking the discharge ends of the chutes of the magazine, so as to cooperate in positioning the bottles in the chutes as they are placed therein by hand, and wherein the device controls the feeding of the bottles into the pockets of the conveyor and temporarily functions as a support for the fed bottles as they are advanced from the magazine. Said device comprises a gate arranged to extend across the discharge ends of the magazine chutes, between said ends and the conveyor. The gate is formed arcuately about the idler shaft I9, and is mounted at its ends on arm portions 60 of similar bell-crank arms 6I fulcrumed on said shaft between the support arms 54 and the adjacent idler sprockets, respectively.

Upon movement of the conveyor, the transverse rows of bottle positioning members Il) are brought into coaxial alignment or register with the bottles in the magazine chutes to dwell a short period of time, whereupon the gate is oscillated downward to release the bottles in the chutes so that same may slide by force of gravity into the pockets of the members. In its down or lowered position, the gate serves as a bridge between the magazine and the conveyor over which the bottles are guided into the pockets of the conveyor. Because of the jerky motion which the fed bottles are subjected to when being advanced from the magazine, the gate is caused to return with the conveyor to its raised position so that its top edge may act as a temporary support for the body portion of the bottles to eliminate breakage at the base of the necks of the bottles, or shoulders.

The gate is provided with means effective during its downward movement for regulating, or controlling, the feeding movement of the bottles from the feed chutes, to minimize the force of impact with which the shoulders of the bottles engage the edges of the pockets of the members I0 on the conveyor, so as to further prevent breakage. To this end the gate is provided with bottle shoulder engaging upright abutments Bla along its top edge forming bottle neck receiving recesses SIb so spaced whereby the neck portions of the row of bottles in the feed chutes are projected therein with the shoulders 6Ic of the bottles engaging the abutments of the gate, when the gate is initially moved downward, in checking the feeding movement of the bottles when the necks thereof are partially received in tend upward to such an extent attach the pocketscf the members lo', as nest seen in rig'.n 3. This structure is especially ef advantage in the feedingef ing-rieckedbettles because they have a `greater distance to fall from the chutes tefqthe conveyor than those withshorter necks, I The machine is so "operated to allow suilicient time for one or more 'operators toplace a row of bottles in the feed chutes ofnthe magazine prep'aratoryl to each operation of the gate. However, it win he understand that any suitable irieans may be employed for automatically p1ac= ing bottles in the chutes, or the chutes may ek as to be capable of retaining quite a supply of bottles in uniform single order. a a l a, The bell-cranks 6l are operably' connected with the power shaft 3l to cause the 'saidgopration of the gate, by means of horiaontal links' t2 pivotally connecting the upright `arms 63 of the cranks' with the upright arms G4 of bell-cranks t5 fulcriihiea respectively te the side frames, as at 66. Ihe bell-cranks 65 have lateral arms 6] in turn pivotally Connected, respectively, throgh links 68, with the free ends of similar horizontal levers 1I] fulcrumed freely on a transverse shaft H which is oscillatably. mounted inrbearing'sin the side frames. On the free ends of said levers are rollers 13 engaging similar earns 74, mounted on the power shaft and being so formed to effect the proper operation of the gate, as outlined in the foregoing description, by way of the said leversand arms or cranks. It may be stated that the levers 1D are'held in engagement with y the cams 14 by force of their own weight.

By reason of the arrangement of the gate and its bell-cranks 6| on the idler shaft I9, when said shaft is adjusted in adjusting the tension of the stretches of the conveyor, which in turn may cause a slight turning movement of the sprockets I8 in a clockwise direction, the gate is caused to' move in unison with the sprockets because of the turning motion imparted to the bell-cranks 6| about their pivotal connections with the connecting links 62.

Thus the gate is maintained in a certain 'cooperative relation with respectt'o the conveyor regardless of anyadjustment of the shaft I9,

Having thus described my invention, I claimt 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a container conveyor having recesses for receiving necks of containers so as to support same in inverted position, ci 'means 'for 'feeding containers to the conveyor by force of gravity including means for temporarily checking the feeding movement of "a container 'when its` neck is partially received in a recess, wherein the last means includes a member ymovable across the path of feeding movement of the container and having formations 'arranged to` be `successjively engaged by the .neck end and shoulder at the base of the `'neck thereof when moved 'out of the path of same. H a

2. Ina machine of the' class described, the combination With a container conveyor having recesses for receiving necks of containers'` so as to support same in inverted position, of means for Afeeding containers to the conveyor by force of gravity including means for temporarily checking the feeding movement of a container when its neck is partially received in a recess', wherein the last means includes a gate arranged to bemoved into and out of the lpath of movement of the container and having a neck receiving recess intowhich the neck ofthe container is adapted to be Projected temporarily vvhen the 3 satev is piattiailymeved out of the path eff the etatfaiiie.

Y 3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a container conveyor having recesses for receiving necks of containers so as to support same in inverted position, of means for feeding containers to the conveyor by force of gravity including means for temporarily checking the' feeding movement of a container when its neck is partially received in a recess, wherein the last means includes a gate arranged to be moved transversely into and out of the path of feeding movement of the container and having a container neck receiving notch into which the neck of the container is adapted to be projected temporarily when the gate is partially moved out of the path of the container.

4'.` In a machine of the class described, the combintin. `vvitl'i a container conveyor having recess's for receiving extended necks of containers to sp'p'ort saine in inverted position, of means for feeding containers to the conveyor by force of gravity including an inclined chute arranged to direct a-cntainerinto arecess, and means at the end of Ythe chiite to control the feeding movenie'ntof thecontainer so as` to temporarily stop same when its neck is partially received in the recess, wherein the feed control means includes a container .engaging member, said member and chute having relative movement into and out of cooperative relation to respectively position ay container in the chute and to cause the release thereof by gravity into a recess of the conveyor, and said fmernbe'r having a recess into which the neck of the'container is projected upon initial relative movement of the nemberto release the` container for holding the container neck partly projeoted into the conveyor recess.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a container conveyor having recesses for receiving extended necks of contain- `ers to support same in inverted position, of means `for feeding containers to the conveyor by force of gravity including an inclined chute arranged to directa container into `a recess, and means at the end of the chute to control the feeding movement of the container so as to temporarily stop same when its neck is partially received in the recess, wherein the feed control means includes a gate at the end of the chute and being movable into position to position a container in the chute and having a recess into which the neck of kthe container is projected temporarily inhold'ing saine partly projected into the recess of the conveyor when the `gate is `initially moved to release the container.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a conveyor for conveying containers with extended necks in inverted position and having pockets within which the necks of the containers are received and means for intermittently advancing the conveyor, of means for feeding containers to the conveyor including a container engaging member and means for moving the member back andforth in time relation Vwith the conveyor so that in .one direction of 'its movement it provides a support for a fed container during its initial movement with the conveyor.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a conveyor for conveying containers with extended necks in inverted position and having pockets within which the necks of the containers 'are received and means for intermiting containers to the conveyor by force of gravity including a member to engage a container in positioning same prior to feeding thereof, and means for moving the member back and forth in time relation with the conveyor whereby in one direction of its movement it effects the release of the container into a pocket and whereby in the other direction of its movement it temporarily supports the fed container during its initial movement with the conveyor.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a conveyor for conveying cont-ainers with extended necks in inverted position and having pockets within which the necks of the containers are received and means for intermittently advancing the conveyor, of means for feeding containers to the conveyor by force of gravity at a given station including a member to engage a container in positioning same prior to feeding thereof, and means for moving the member back and forth in time relation with the conveyor whereby it respectively moves in opposite direction to the conveyor portion at said station to effect the release of the container into a conveyor pocket and then moves in unison with the conveyor in providing a temporary support for the fed container during its initial movement with the conveyor.

9. In a machine-of the Yclass described, the combination with an endless conveyor for conveying containers and comprising flexibly connected container positioning elements arranged to travel in active and return stretches, means to intermittently advance the elements and adjustable conveyor support means at a juncture of the stretches to adjust the tension thereof, of means for feeding containers to the conveyor at said juncture including a container engaging member, and means for moving the member back and forth in time relation with the conveyor whereby in one direction of its movement it is in supporting relation with respect to a fed container during its initial movement with the conveyor, inclusive of means to cause adjustment of the member with the conveyor upon adjustment of the support in maintaining said relation between the member and a fed container.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an endless conveyor for conveying containers and comprising flexibly connected container positioning elements with pockets for receiving portions of the containers and being arranged to travel in active and return stretches, means to intermittently advance the elements, and conveyor support means adjustable to adjust tension of the stretches, of means for feeding containers to the conveyor adjacent the juncture of said stretches including a chute for feeding a container into a conveyor pocket by force of gravity, a member at the discharge end of the chute to position a container therein, and means for moving the member back and forth in time relation with the conveyor to effect the release of the container from the chute when moved in one direction and to be in supporting relation with respect to said container during its initial movement with the conveyor when moved in its other direction, inclusive of means to cause adjustment of the member with the conveyor upon adustment of the support in maintaining said supporting relation of the member with respect to the container.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an endless conveyor for conveying bottles with extended necks in inverted position and comprising flexibly connected bottle positioning elements with pockets for receiving the necks of the bottles and being arranged to travel in active and return stretches, means to intermittently advance the elements, rotatable means over which the conveyor is supported at a juncture of the stretches and a shaft for said rotatable means, of means for feeding the bottles to the conveyor by force of gravity at a station adjacent said juncture thereof including feed control means comprising a gate formed arcuately about the shaft and fulcrumed thereon, and means for oscillating the gate so that a portion thereof successively supports the fed bottles during their initial movement with the conveyor and whereby upon its said movement the gate checks the feeding of the succeeding bottles until released thereby upon the return movement thereof.

12. The structure as defined in claim 11, wherein the shaft is mounted for adjustment laterally to adjust tension of the conveyor stretches, and wherein the means for oscillating the gate is inclusive of means to cause adjustment of the gate with the conveyor upon adjustment of the shaft in maintaining the gate in a given relation with respect to the fed bottles.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an endless conveyor for conveying containers and comprising flexibly connected container positioning elements arranged to travel in active and return stretches, means to intermittently advance the elements, and a support for supporting the conveyor at a juncture of the stretches and being shiftable into positions to adjust tension of the stretches, of means for feeding containers to the positioning elements at said. juncture including a container engaging member mounted on the support for back and forth movement, and means for moving the member so that it moves with an element and in engagement with a container positioned thereby in one direction of its movement at various positions of the support.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a container positioning element to support a container with an extended neck in inverted position and comprising a pocket to receive the neck of the container with an edge portion of the pocket supporting the shoulder of the container, of means for feeding a container into the pocket under force of gravity including means to temporarily stop the container when its neck is partially received in the pocket to minimize the force of impact with which the shoulder of the container engages the edge portion of the pocket in preventing damage to the container.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a. conveyor for conveying containers with extended necks in inverted position and comprising serially arranged container neck receiving pockets with edge portions to support the shoulders of the containers, and means to intermittently advance the pockets to a loading station, of means for feeding a container into a pocket at the station under force of gravity including means to temporarily stop the container when its neck is partially received in the pocket to minimize the force of impact with which the shoulder of the container engages the edge portion of the recess in preventing damage to the container.

16. In apparatus of the class described, a container feed chute having a discharge end, and a feed control gate at the discharge end having a feed control gate at the discharge end having an edge With a container neck receiving notch and a container neck-end engaging portion below the notch, said gate arranged for movement to bring said portion and notch into and out of cooper- 5 ative relation With the discharge end successively.

IVAN H. RISSER. 

